Radio 5 Live's first broadcast from its new home in Salford is imminent. But why move it away from London and the Olympics?

T
omorrow, at 10.30pm, Radio 5 Live makes its first regular live broadcast from
its new home in Salford. Britain’s fourth most popular radio station has
been uprooted by BBC politics and regional regeneration and, along with
sport, children’s television and some other BBC departments, is no longer
based in London but at a vast waterside edifice called MediaCityUK. Many BBC
staff have refused to go. Others, including 5 Live’s controller, Adrian Van
Klaveren, have been criticised for retaining their homes in the south and
deciding to commute (partly at our expense).

It is a highly controversial move, not least because of the £200m cost, but
will listeners notice any change? Will the programmes sound different? Time
will tell, but I doubt it. All manner of shows have been moved out of the
capital over the years, with few listeners being aware of it. Jonathan
Dimbleby now does Any Answers? live